Camaro SS Bandit Conversion

[hesster]

More Stripes.

Applied some on the Rear Quarter Scoops, and on the Lower Body Contour just above the Rocker Panels. I was looking at the Body Lines, and these 5th Gens have a great contour just above the Rocker Panels, but it is kinda hard to see it on a black car.

Not now - I really like it as it as the Stripes draw it out and make it pop.

These are all done by eye, there is no template, and applied dry. The front "Point" on the Front Fender Body Contour Stripes is constructed off the car, as it is easier to mock it up and then transfer it to the car.

[hesster]

Working some Details until I can finish the Stripes and put the Bird on the Hood, and that is prob early December. May even wait until spring for the Hood Bird.

I need a few more "Trans Am" decals from Da Vinci Wraps, but they are not responding after a week of trying. WTF? I can get these off of the Web, but I want the Font to be the same throughout the car.

Purchased a Pontiac Arrow Emblem for the Front Fascia, and it did not exactly fit well. My attempt to paint the one included with the Kit looked sub par. Although the real Pontiac Arrow is the exact same size, the Kit's Front Fascia is much more curved and "pointy" where it mounts. So just ground out a matching curve on the backside of the Emblem until it fit better.

Then I had to eliminate anything that say's "Chevrolet" on the car. Like the Door Sills, the small script on the Steering Wheel center, and the Premium Floor Mats which would be a shame to not keep. So some C/F wrap on the Sills, and a strip of polished Aluminum Bar Stock with a Trans AM Decal on the Mats for now. There was a little Cover Piece to cover the script on the SW that was included with the Conversion Kit, so that was C/F wrapped and installed with 3M tape.

Then I am tackling reworking the Dash and Door Inserts. Plan is to remove the Cloth, and use a Black and Gold CF Wrap - something subtle, no flashy bright Gold in your face. The Dash inserts were easy to pop off, and then removed the cloth and adhesive. The Door Inserts are next, there are instructions in this Forum for DIY.

Then some Underhood Dress Up. Black C/F Wrapped the Fuse Box Cover and the Hood Prop Rod, and then installed some Split Loom for the Wire Harness's. I use "Convoshield" Brand; it is a premium Loom, looks good, and the chrome finish does not crack and flake off like the stuff in the local Auto Stores.

More Dress Up stuff to follow.

[George-CZ]

I have been following this thread with pleasure for a long time and I must commend the excellent work! I really like it and I'm quietly jealous

When I look at that hood shaker, I must think of a friend's 79 Trans AM that I almost crashed when I watched with interest how it moved beautifully depending on the work of the gas pedal and I wasn't concentrating on the steering and the traffic around me

[NoDakZ/28]

Great work as always!

[hesster]

Installed some Drake Muscle Cars Billet Aluminum Strut Covers and ZL1 Addons Deluxe Rock Guards, Front & Rear.

The Strut Caps are a nice touch and easy to install, no more ugly stock caps. I decided not to install Coil Overs for now, and actually returned them. After putting everything back on the car, I stood back and realized the stance is just fine, and I really want to keep the suspension Stock. Basically I go by the 2 Finger Gap rule, any spacing more than that from the top of the Tire to the Fenders tend to compromise the stance.

The Rock Guards? Hmm, I like the minimal profile, and yep they are minimal behind thiose Big Meat Tires. The Front's are easy to install, they just use the existing Wheel Well Liner attachment Screws and a strip of 3M Tape.

The Rear's not so much. Retention solely depends on some spacer blocks and 3M tape that "secures" them to the Inner Lip of the Fascia, as the Wheel Liner is recessed back from the Fascia Lip. Then you align the Guard into position using "3 hands", mark where to drill the attachment holes on the Blocks, then remove the Blocks and drill holes into the Blocks. Then stick the Blocks to the Fascia Lip and screw the Rock Guard to the Blocks. Not the greatest design, and wonder if the 3M Tape gives up the Ghost over time. Well I cleaned the Inner Fascia Lip with W&G Remover, and stuck them on the best I could. It took some doing to get them vertical and looking correct.

[Aqua Blue RS/SS]

Looking KILLER! I’ve really enjoyed this build a lot. Very very nice work as always.

[SlowLS1]

Attention to detail is out of this world!

[hesster]

Worked a few updates-
Foot Well Ambient Lighting and Pedal Covers.

The Phastek Ambient Lighting Kit supplies a Dome Light and two strips for the Footwell. The adhesive on the Footwell Strips is useless, so added some 3M Tape and Zip Ties. There are Grounds on each side of the Console to provide good Neg Connection, and per the DIW the + Wires are tapped into a Grey Wire at the connector behind the Passenger K/O Panel. Easier to get to than the Accel Pedal Connector.

Then added some Drake Pedal Covers.

Then after looking at the Car for the millionth time, I saw that the Dove Tail Spoiler and Wings view was just not quite right. So added Stripes to the Rear Upper Sections. This really draws out the profile better.

[hesster]

Worked the removal of the Door Inserts for Prep to Wrap with Gold/Black Carbon Fiber. There is a good DIY on the Forum, but it lacks Pics. Surprised that the 1SS inners are NOT clear Panels with any Paint on the Inside like the 2SS, but that makes sense for GM saving costs.

Got the Inner Door Panels off removing the Screws, Retaining clips, and Electrical Connectors. Then sliced off the mounting posts with a Razor Blade, as the heads of these are are melted down to secure the Panel. Surprised that the Cloth's Foam/Adhesive was rather easy to remove with a Plastic Paddle and Strong Goof Off and W/G Remover.

Ready for Wrap, and reinstall. Went smoother than expected - that is always a good thing.

[hesster]

Installed some Stainless Covers for the Fuse Box, ABS, and Brake M/C. Got these from Stainless Engine Covers on EBay. They are very reasonable compared to the other stuff on the Web, and no Logo like I wanted. Much better than a Aluminum unfinished welded up box from Moroso.

Pulled off the Shifter Trim Bezel and the Instrument Panel Gage Bezel. I think it will be difficult to Vinyl Wrap the Instrument Bezel with it's complex curves, but will try that first. If that is not acceptable, then I will Paint the Dash Trim Panels and the Bezel Snowflake Gold like the Front Fascia Grill. The weather may not cooperate on that plan, but we will see.

Then sadly, it was time to get around to storing the "Beast" for the Winter. Dragged out the premade support Blocks and Carpet/Foam Mats and got them tucked under the Frame and Tires to support the Suspension at 1/2 Travel. I do this every year, and keep the cars on Trickle Chargers.

Gotta love the 5th Pic of both Cars. I had to take a moment.

[DirtyDirt]

Looking great... top notch work for certain

[feh_pexoto]

That's neat! what a job, kudos!

[hesster]

Been waiting for some Black & Gold Carbon Fiber Wrap to make it's way here from California, so decided in the meantime to Paint the Door and Dash Inserts, and the Dash Instrument Bezel.

I had enough Snowflake Gold Paint to Paint all of these Interior Parts. So what the hell, if the Gold is too much bling, then I can always Wrap them, or maybe just Wrap the Door Inserts. But the Dash Inserts tie into the Door Inserts so they should have the same matching treatment.
Or maybe not.
After all, many Camaro Owners have Painted or Purchased Prepainted Door Inserts available in any Camaro Color offered (RPI Designs). Just not Gold...

Opinions welcome.

So I painted them first with a Silver Base to provide a common base for the Gold to go on. Then 3 coats of Gold BC, then 2 coats of Snowflake Gold with Gold Pearl, and then a Flowcoat of clear. They look good, it is a warm rich Gold color. I will apply a Bird Decal in the location shown in the Pic, it covers what is a small "Hump" in the Panel - that is from the Molding process I assume. These Door Inserts are translucent white so I painted the inner sides with some Black BC to darken the Gold and assure a even "look".

I should get the C/F Wrap w/in a week, so I can see if that is the route to go on some or all of the parts. Or stay with the Gold Painted Parts and install them back in the car.

[Aqua Blue RS/SS]

Damn!!! Those door panels look killer!